Spicy Advice: How to Peace Out Gracefully

Here goes. This is my first foray into the world of advice (at least in a blog).

A friend recently asked for my opinion on a situation she’s having at work. I’m not an etiquette expert, but I have my ideas…

The reader writes:

This is my second week in my new position. So far, it’s been a slow learning curve because there are no policies in place, but I am piecing them together with input from others. I really dig the relaxed dress code and casual environment here, but I have had another opportunity come my way. Recently, I had a second interview with another company for a better position. I received a call from the recruiter for a job offer, and accepted the position. I’ve tried for years to land a position like this and I am still pretty stunned it happened so quickly. They want me to start in two weeks. Yes, I will be back at large company with all the politics that entails (bye-bye flip-flops at work), but the pay is more and the career is what I’ve wanted for a long time. Plus it’s closer to my house. So, how do I tell my current employer that I am taking another position given that I have only been here a short time?

Spicy Thoughts:

Congrats! It sounds like you got the coveted “dream job.” While you might want to coast for these next two weeks, don’t burn any bridges by giving your employer the proverbial middle finger. Even if you have no plans to go back to that company, it’s just bad karma. If you’re starting your new position in two weeks, then you should let your current employer know today that you’re leaving. The standard way to leave a position is to notify your manager in writing. It’s always nice to give advance notice so that they can take care of passing along any information you may have to other employees. In this case, it sounds like you’re probably still in training, so the transition to leave might be less cumbersome for you and your employer. You might consider asking your manager for a few minutes of his/her time at the end of the day to hand in your two weeks notice and field any questions about your decision to leave. That is completely up to you though. There is no law requiring you to give a reason for leaving your position. It just seems that it would be a nice thing to do since you’ve only been there a short time. Plus it shows respect for your manager and the opportunity he/she gave you. Good luck in your new position!

If you have a question for The Spicy Meatball, email me at TheSpicyMeatballGirl@gmail.com! I can’t guarantee I have the right answer, but it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion.